Regional & International
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The Korean Vegan Cookbook: Reflections and Recipes from Omma's Kitchen
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST NEW COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Epicurious • EATER • Stained Page • Infatuation • Spruce Eats • Publisher’s Weekly • Food52 • Toronto Star
The dazzling debut cookbook from Joanne Lee Molinaro, the home cook and spellbinding storyteller behind the online sensation @thekoreanvegan
Joanne Lee Molinaro has captivated millions of fans with her powerfully moving personal tales of love, family, and food. In her debut cookbook, she shares a collection of her favorite Korean dishes, some traditional and some reimagined, as well as poignant narrative snapshots that have shaped her family history.
As Joanne reveals, she’s often asked, “How can you be vegan and Korean?” Korean cooking is, after all, synonymous with fish sauce and barbecue. And although grilled meat is indeed prevalent in some Korean food, the ingredients that filled out bapsangs on Joanne’s table growing up—doenjang (fermented soybean paste), gochujang (chili sauce), dashima (seaweed), and more—are fully plant-based, unbelievably flavorful, and totally Korean. Some of the recipes come straight from her childhood: Jjajangmyun, the rich Korean-Chinese black bean noodles she ate on birthdays, or the humble Gamja Guk, a potato-and-leek soup her father makes. Some pay homage: Chocolate Sweet Potato Cake is an ode to the two foods that saved her mother’s life after she fled North Korea.
The Korean Vegan Cookbook is a rich portrait of the immigrant experience with life lessons that are universal. It celebrates how deeply food and the ones we love shape our identity.
The dazzling debut cookbook from Joanne Lee Molinaro, the home cook and spellbinding storyteller behind the online sensation @thekoreanvegan
Joanne Lee Molinaro has captivated millions of fans with her powerfully moving personal tales of love, family, and food. In her debut cookbook, she shares a collection of her favorite Korean dishes, some traditional and some reimagined, as well as poignant narrative snapshots that have shaped her family history.
As Joanne reveals, she’s often asked, “How can you be vegan and Korean?” Korean cooking is, after all, synonymous with fish sauce and barbecue. And although grilled meat is indeed prevalent in some Korean food, the ingredients that filled out bapsangs on Joanne’s table growing up—doenjang (fermented soybean paste), gochujang (chili sauce), dashima (seaweed), and more—are fully plant-based, unbelievably flavorful, and totally Korean. Some of the recipes come straight from her childhood: Jjajangmyun, the rich Korean-Chinese black bean noodles she ate on birthdays, or the humble Gamja Guk, a potato-and-leek soup her father makes. Some pay homage: Chocolate Sweet Potato Cake is an ode to the two foods that saved her mother’s life after she fled North Korea.
The Korean Vegan Cookbook is a rich portrait of the immigrant experience with life lessons that are universal. It celebrates how deeply food and the ones we love shape our identity.
Editorial Reviews
"[Joanne is] an expert in veganizing dishes, especially Korean food, and a soothing storyteller….Over the course of exactly 60 seconds, Molinaro somehow makes you want to laugh, cry, march in the streets and devour every damn thing on her plate."
–The Washington Post
"Joanne masterfully entwines food, culture, education and self-improvement with incredibly honest, vulnerable, heartfelt stories….May this extraordinary woman inspire you to think more deeply about your own story-and the indelible power inherent in sharing it."
–Rich Roll, ultra-endurance athlete, wellness advocate, and the host of The Rich Roll Podcast
"This Tasty Tribute is full of heart and flavor."
–STARRED Publisher's Weekly
"With these stories, it becomes clear that every dish is deeply personal to Molinaro, and by presenting the recipes here, she does more than offer up delicious food - she invites the reader to honor one immigrant family's story."
–EATER
"You don't have to be vegan to consume Joanne Molinaro's cooking videos. Although you might come for the food, you'll leave with life lessons on love, grief, and growing up Korean. If you grew up in an immigrant household or ever felt like you weren't enough, then Molinaro's stories may resonate with you."
–SELF
"Joanne Lee Molinaro gained fame as @thekoreanvegan on TikTok, and her debut cookbook is a welcome addition to our shelves. Come for the savory soups and stews, stay for the mushroom galbi and gochujang-glazed persimmon upside-down cake."
–EPICURIOUS
"All of Joanne Lee Molinaro's work reminds us that the best part of any recipe is the story behind it. In her debut cookbook, she shares not only so many wonderful vegan Korean dishes (I want to cook so many things!), she also shares herself and her family with us. We are better for it."
–Julia Turshen, Bestselling Cookbook Author of Simply Julia, Host of Keep Calm & Cook On, and Founder of Equity at The Table
"When you crack open The Korean Vegan Cookbook, you won't just want to make every one of Joanne's mouthwatering recipes (and you will!), you'll want to devour her writing, too. Between her creative, plant-based takes on noodles, banchan, bagels, and more, she shares stories of her family that will move you to laughter and tears by turns."
–Jeanine Donofrio, author of The Love and Lemons Cookbook
"Come for the veganized Korean recipes that will inspire you in the kitchen and delight your tastebuds (the Tteokbokki and Kkanpoong Tofu will change your life). Stay for Joanne's poetic stories about family and culture that will move you to tea...
Readers Top Reviews
MayaO
This had me drooling mere seconds after opening it, and I’m sure I’ll be dreaming about all those delicious dishes tonight. The images are gorgeous, the stories the author shares are delightful and endearing, and if I were to flag every recipe I immediately wanted to try, nearly every page would be flagged. We can’t wait to add beautiful recipes to our dinner table, and share them with loved ones. What a treasure!
kim
I have been waiting for this cookbook for months, and it does not disappoint! I spent hours reading the pages and admiring the beautiful photography. Every recipe tells a story, and makes me feel like she’s with me in the kitchen. Additionally, she takes some time to introduce us to many of the ingredients we will use, providing suggestions on favorite brands and how to store them (which was very helpful for me to get started) I could not recommend this book enough if you are interested Korean cooking (or cooking in general). What a gift Joanne!
Jeanne
Been following Joanne for over a year in various social media apps, and preordered this in early March. Super thrilled it arrived today on release day! Beautifully done book. Have made several of these recipes already but have sooooo many more to try now. The photographs are spectacular and represent the culture and the veganism so well. The narration she shares online is well documented here as well. So very pleased to have my own copy. I’ll be cooking multiple recipes this week. Thanks Joanne/ Theee Korean Vegan! ?
Suzannah B. Troy
The book is beautiful and the first thing I noticed is how heavy it is, thorough and thoughtful; you could use it for weight lifting too! It is a vegan love letter to Korean food and the author's family and heritage! The pages are filled w/ beautiful photographs of vegan Korean foods and my mouth is watering...I'm a vegan and I'm 59, whole food plant-based mostly all oil free so I'm going to get creative with the recipes and see if I can substitute the oil with water or vegetable broth but the book is rich, exciting and as a Jewish woman who loves getting "creative vegan" with my ethnic background I'm really excited to try some home made Korean vegan food. It's also very touching embracing the many different cultures cuisines that make up the USA's melting pot! This book honors Korean cooking while allowing vegans to stay true to the beliefs that motivate us to be vegans! This book is beautiful just to turn the pages is like a journey, series of journeys...culinary, family and more..., a mouth watering journey for me.....a page turner!
Andres S.
I’m half Korean, but I never grew up being exposed to Korean dishes or the culture even. I didn’t really pay much attention to it until I started teaching English as a Second Language to Asian children since November 2019. I realized I know nothing about my Korean side because I grew up whitewashed. My white dad made it certain to make me feel ashamed of that part of me, which forced me to distance myself from myself. I found the Korean Vegan on YouTube during the pandemic and became really inspired by her family history and her ability to share her vegan recipes. I have two signed copies (one for me and one for my older sister). I look forward to making authentic Korean dishes. Thank you for helping me take back my Korean side. It is such a pleasure to meet such a strong woman.
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